Apparatus for feeding, or both feeding, and counting, cigarettes for packeting, applicable also to analogous purposes



W. ROSE.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING, 0R BOTH FEEDING AND coumme, CIGARETTES FOR PACKETING,

APPLICABLE ALSO T0 ANALOGOUS PURPOSES.

. APPLICATION HLED JAN- 8.1921. 1,393,642.

Patented 001. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

MAW/Afar W/Mam' Pose R [Home W. ROSE. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING, 0R BOTH FEEDING AND COUNTING, CIGARETTES FOR PAGKETING,

APPLICABLE ALSO T0 ANALOGOUS PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.8. 1921.

1,393,642, Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WI ROSE. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING, on BOTH FEEDING AND COUNTING, GIGARETITES FOR PACKETING,

APPLICABLE ALSO T0 ANALOGOUS PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.8, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3v Patented Oct. 11, 1921.7

bwanfbr M'///am 1903:

By Aframeys llllt UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ROSE, OF GAINSBOROUGH, ENG-LAND.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING, OR BOTH FEEDING, AND COUNTING, CIGARETTES FOR PACKETING, APPLICABLE ALSO T0 ANALOGOUS PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

Application filed January 8, 1921. Serial No. 435,914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Rosn,'a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at- Albion Works, Gainsborough, in the county of Lincoln, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding, or Both Feeding and Counting,

Cigarettes for Packeting, Applicable also to Analogous Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide very eflicient means, whereby cigarettes, or other articles which can be similarly dealt with, (but which, for the sake of brevity I will hereinafter refer to as cigarettes) can be fed, as required, for packeting or other purpose, they being also, if desired, counted at.

the same time.

In theconstruction of apparatus for such purposes, it has usually been assumed that a batch, or group,'of'any given number of cigarettes will occupy a certain definite space, but this cannot be relied upon because there is no certainty that the cigarettes will all be of exactly the same size and any objection due to this want of uniformity of size of course becomes accentuated when batches, or

groups, (say, for instance, each of five) are dealt with collectively. If, for instance, the

cigarettes, or a number of them, be of a cirmyself to the precise details illustrated.

cumference different from that assumed,

then, when a number, (say a batch of five) I thereof is being dealt with, the difference in vvation and Fig. 3 a plan of the said appabulk of the said batch, as compared with,

the bulk of an equal number of cigarettes of the correct size, is such that more, or less,

supports a hopper, or magazine, 3, secured than the correct number may be separated from the bulk and fed forward, or a clgavrette, or cigarettes, may be damaged by the mechanism.

In the apparatus as hitherto constructed the cigarettes have also been liable to assume a position other than that they should occupy, while being fed and this has resulted Fig. 3.

kept to a sufficient extent apart from the rest and a separating device which enters the space between any predetermined two CIgZUGttQS SO as to allow single cigarettes, or successive batches of the predetermined number (say five for instance) thereof to pass away from the rest of the cigarettes, which are temporarily retained by the aforesaid engaging means.

According to our present invention we provlde means whereby the cigarettes which are separated from the rest are so controlled in their passage to the boxing machine or place where they are to be packeted, or otherwise dealt with, that they are kept under positive control and in proper relative positions during the whole of their passage to the said machine, or place, as hereinafter explained. Change gear, or other suitable means, may be provided if desired to vary the number of cigarettes in the batches.

A counter, or indicator, may be provided to register, or indicate, the number of cigarettes, or the number of batches of cigarettes, operated upon by the apparatus.

I will describe, more particularly and, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the nature of my invention and the best means with which I am acquainted for carrying it into effect, but I do not limit Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section, of the apparatus. Fig. 2 an end eleratus.

A table 1, carried on a main framework 2,

in correct position by screws 4:, as seen in The bottom 5 ofthe hopper 3 is downwardly inclined and there is an opening 6, at the forward end of the said hopper.

A drum 7, (secured to a spindle 8,) is provided with recesses, or grooves, 11, on its periphery parallel with its axis and is capable of being rotated between the vertical sides of the hopper 3. The spindle 8 is supported in bearings 9 and 9 on the main framework 2, and also passes through bosses 10 and 10 carried by the sides of the hoper 3. I p A cylindrical brush 12, secured to a spindle 13 supported in bearings 14 and 14 is capable of being rotated between the sides of the h ppe There are grooves 15, around the drum 7, and stationary finger-strips 16 are disposed in suitable positions within the grooves 15.

The cigarettes (marked 18) are placed in the hopper 3, in the position shown.

A toothed wheel 19, secured to the spindle 8, engages with an intermediate toothed wheel 20, with which engages another gear.-

wheel 21, secured to the outer end of the spindle 13, to which the cylindrical brush 12 is also secured. The intermediate wheel 20 is rotatably supported on a stud 22, se-- cured by a nut 23 -to%a bracket 24 at the front part of the. hopper 3. The; rotationof the spindleiS therefore eflectsthe-rotation' of the: drum 7, and through the toothed wheels 19, 20 and 21, and spindle13, the rotation of the cylindrical brush. 12 both in' a clockwise direction asviewed'in Fig; 1.

Thepositions, and operation of the drum 7 and brush 12, relatively to each other, and to the hopper 3, and cigarettes 18, are such that, when the apparatus is in operation, each one of therecesses, or grooves 11, receives, from the hopper 3,- a cigarette, and

delivers it to the downwardly inclined channel, or chute, 25.

25, and are continued along an extended portion of the channel, or chute, 25, beyond an engaging wheel 31.

A hood, or guard, 32 is secured (for instance by screws 33) to the hopper 3, to prevent the cigarettes therein from. coming into contact with the side of'the brush 12, which is uppermost.

The engaging wheel 31, is secured toa spindle 32 supported in bearings 33 and 33 carried by the main framework 2..A main shaft 349m rotatable in bearings 35 and 35 carried by the main framework 2 the said shaft 34 being operated by any suitable means such as, for instance, an electric motor. The said shaft 34, has secured to it a toothed wheel 36, which engages with a toothed wheel 37 on a boss 38, to which is also secured a toothed wheel 39, the said boss 38, being rotatably supported on a stud 4:0. The mainframe 2 is provided with a slotted way 41, and the stud 40 is secured in suitable position in'thesaid' slottedi way by means of a nut 12}; Theitooth'ed wheel "39, engages with' a toothed wheel 43, secured to the spindle 32, to the outer end of which another said toothed wheel 4-4 is secured. On the end of the spindle 8, and outside of the main frame 2, is secured a toothed wheel which engages with the toothed wheel 14 A..spinolle s6 is rotatable inl bearings 47 and 47 carried by the main frame 2 and sprocket chain-wheels d8 are secured to the said spindle 16. A toothed wheel 49 is secured to the outer end of the said spindle 16 and engages with the toothed wheel 43. Other sprocket chain-wheels 50'are rotatably supported by a spindle 51 and endless chains 52 are'carried by the sprocket chain wheels-48 and 50. The spindle 51 can be securedincorrect position, relatively to the spindle 16, after adjustment in the slotted supporting way" 53, by means of the nuts 54. V

Projections '55, are disposed at suitable distances apart alongthe chainsf52. Ribs, or teeth, 56, with recesses, or grooves, 57 be tween them are provided on the periphery of the engaging wheel 31, and parallel with the axis thereof. The lower end'of the channel, or chute, 25, constitutes a concentrically disposed passage, or channel, 58, extending partially around the lower partof the said engaging wheel 31, and each of the ribs, or teeth, 56, thereof will enter the space between two adjacent cigarettes in the concentric passage, or cha'nnel,58.

' vVhen the main shaft 34" is rotated, the upper portions of the chains 52 are operated (by means of'the aforesaid too-thed'wheels 36, 37 ,39, 43 and 49', and the sprocket chain wheels 48), so as to traveltoward the right hand side of Figs. land 3. T'heproj ections 55, on the chains52,'arethereby'caused "to co-act with theeng'aging wheel 31, and

engage the'space'between any predetermined pair of cigarettes (which in'the eirarnple" illustrated'is between every'fifth'and sixth of the cigarettes), the engaging :wheel 31 at this time being caused to rotate by meansof the toothed wheels 36,37, 39 and 13. Simultaneously rotative movement, at a correspending rate, is imparted to the drum 7 and brush 12,'by reason" of the engagement of'the toothed-wheels 14,-, 4:5, 19, 20 and21.

By the operation of the arrangement described the projections separate the cigarettes 18, in the case illustrated, into batches of five, and the chains 52, convey them forward, and clear of the engaging wheel 31, the said cigarettes being conveyed by the said chains to any required place such as a packeting, or other, machine, for instance. Means are provided, when necessary, to assist in transferring the'said cigarettes to the required position, such transferring means including, for instance, a pushing device 59, provided at the "lower'end with fingers 62 and pivotally supported, by a pin 60, on the end of a lifter'arm 61, which is capable of rocking ona sleeve 63, which forms an entension of the boss ofaLbeLl-crank lever 64-, and

is reduced in diameter and constitutes a bearing for the boss of the lifter arm 61. A spindle is supported by bosses 66 and 66 on the main-frame 2. An antifriction roller 67 is rotatable upon a pin 68, on the lifter arm 61. Another antifriction roller 69 is rotatable upon a pin 70, on the bell-crank lever 64, which is capable of rocking on the spindle 65. The depending arm 71 of the bell-crank lever 64, is connected, by a link 72, and pins 73 and 74 with the pushing device 59. A cam 75 is provided on a boss 76, on the main shaft 34, and the antifriction roller 67, is retained in contact with the edge of the said cam 75, by the spring 7 6*, one end of which is passed over a stud 77 on the lifter arm 61, the other end engaging with a stud 78 on the main frame 2. Similarly, the antifriction roller 69 bears on a cam 79, also provided on the boss 76. One end of a spring 80, is passed over a stud 81, on the bell-crank-lever 64, the other end of the said spring engaging with a stud 82, on the main frame 2. This spring serves to retain the antifriction roller 69 in contact with the edge of the cam 7 9.

When the cam 75, is rotated by the main shaft 34, the lifter arm 61 is, by means of the roller 67, lifted and the pushing element 59, with the fingers 62, is raised.

The bell-crank lever 64 is then acted upon by the spring 80, and pulls down the roller 69, on the said lever following the contour of the cam 79. Through the depending arm 71, of the bell-crank lever 64, and the link 72, the pushing device 59, with the fingers 62, is caused to move toward the left-hand side of Figs. 1 and 3. During the rearward movement the raised position of the pushing device 59, prevents the fingers 62 engaging with any cigarettes which may be supported in the channel portion 30. On, or about, the completion of the said rearward movement of the 76 operates the lifting arm 61 and, consequently, the pushing device 59 descends such a distance that the lower ends of the fingers 62 engage the proper space between two of the cigarettes supported in the channel portion 30 at one of the places where the proj ections 55 on the chain 52 are situated. The roller 67 on the lifting arm 61, at this time, follows the contour of the cam 75.

The continued rotation of the main-shaft 34 with the cams, and co-acting elements operating in connection therewith, effects the movement of the pushing device 59, and finger 62, toward the right hand of Figs. 1 and 3, the fingers 62 remaining in lowered position, and in engagement with the aforesaid space between the cigarettes in the channel portion 30.

The operations of the various co-acting elements hereinbefore referred to, are so timed that, the batch of cigarettes is transpushing device 59, the springferred forward, and clear of the projections 55 on the chains 52, and delivered to any de sired position, such for instance, as the receiver 83 of a packeting, or other machine.

A counting attachment 84 is shown suported in convenient position on the main framework 2 of the apparatus, a pin 85 on the depending arm 71, a link 86, and a pin 87 on a lever 88, being provided, by means of which the necessary movements will be imparted, by the oscillating motions of the depending arm 71, to the mechanism of the counting attachment 84.

The said counting attachment 84 is set, or adjusted, as desired to indicate the number of cigarettes, or the number of batches of cigarettes, operated upon by the apparatus.

I have not deemed it necessary to describe the counting attachment 84 in detail, as any suitable kind of counting device may be employed.

If, and when, it is found necessary to alter the number of cigarettes in the batches this can be readily accomplished for example by varying the ratio between the number of rotations of the main-shaft 84, and of the engaging wheel 31, the drum 7, the cylindrical brush 12, and the sprocket wheel 48 so as to obtain the desired results, by substituting, so far as is necessary, other toothed wheels (each of which contains the proper number of teeth) and replacing the chains 52 by other chains, along which projections, similar to those shown at 55, will be disposed at suitably spaced intervals of such a length that the desired number of cigarettes to form the required batches will be contained between each pair of projections 55, and conveved, along the channel portion 30.

y means of the slotted ways 41 and 58, the stud 40, and the spindle 51, can be adjusted and secured in correct position, according to any change which may be effected in regard to the hereinbefore described toothed wheels and chains.

1 do not claim the feeding articles, such as cigarettes, by a rotatable grooved drum, from a hopper into a channel from which they are allowed to pass in batches into recesses in a receiving wheel; but what I claim is 1. In a machine of the character described, a hopper, a chute, means for feeding articles such as cigarettes from the hopper to the chute, a rotatable engaging wheel associated with said chute and having peripheral pro jections to separately engage and feed forward from the chute each article therein, and a coacting endless chain having projections facing the projections on the engaging wheel and spaced to separate the articles into batches, the projections on the chain being arranged to substantially oppose certain of the projections on the engaging Wheel and to enter between adjacent articles at the end of a batch, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine, of the character described, a chute, means for feeding articles such as cigarettes thereto, an engaging Wheel associated With said chute and having its periphery shaped to separately engage and feed forward each article therein, and means for rotating said engaging Wheel together with a conveyer coacting With the engaging Wheel and receiving the articles acted on by the latter, means on said conveyer for separating the articles into batches, and means for driving the conveyer, in combination With a table to Which the conveyer delivers ered in batches, a pusher for advancing the batches along the table, a counting mechanism and means for actuating the latter by the movement of the pusher.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of Witnesses.

two subscribing WILLIAM' ROSE.

Witnesses:

O. GEORGE, THOMAS H. PREsTAeE. 

